The roots of most living green things in Central Indiana may be a little parched nowadays, but certain musical roots are being well-nourished, if the second day of the Indy Jazz Fest is any indication …

… Since groups of seven to 10 players in jazz are somewhat rare, it was fun to compare the Riley/Sickler group with bassist Frank Smith's aggregation in a brisk half-hour set on the Jazz Central Stage near the end of the day.

Drawing almost entirely from his first CD as a leader, "Chasing Chances," Smith's performance found him front and center on the electric bass. With the peerless Kenny Phelps on drums and Kevin Kaiser handling an array of complementary percussion, the music had a sweep and steadiness abetted by the flowing, intense guest vocals of Cynthia Layne. Pianist Steve Allee contributed gemlike, well-grounded accompaniment throughout.

A horn section consisting of top-drawer players (trumpeter Mark Buselli, saxophonist Mike Stricklin and trombonist Rich Dole) inserted apt comments in ensemble playing and solos …

Full story available at www.indystar.com

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Oh, night sublime for bassist and band
by
JAY HARVEY
JAY.HARVEY@INDYSTAR.COM

Frank Smith CD release party

Where: The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.

Bottom line: Mr. Jazz Bass of Indianapolis takes a well-deserved turn in the spotlight.

Contorting his usually amiable face into a grimace worthy of Beethoven, Smith opened his 90-minute first set Friday waving his arms in the air, eliciting a few dissonant, out-of-tempo chords from the band as if summoning order out of chaos with difficulty.

When the order emerged, it was sublimely home-centered in this most home-centered of seasons – a peppy tribute to the street where he lives, "Graceland Avenue." Playing the seven-string bass guitar, the 50-year-old Smith led the eight-piece band in a rousing performance.

His top-flight band sailed through smoothly textured original music. Smith's wealth of ideas was exuberantly expressed, and he gave and received inspiration in solos from such bandmates as guitarist Charlie Smith (no relation), pianist Steve Allee and saxophonist Rob Dixon. Thomas Brinkley nailed down the bass line on numbers featuring Smith's soaring on seven-string.